Santa, Baby

The holiday season is always crazy busy, a hectic time of year. Between her job and taking care of their three kids, it's been at least over a week since she and Castle have been able to share a moment of intimacy. They are usually pretty good at making time or sneaking off to enjoy a few sacred minutes between themselves but for some reason, these last few days have made it impossible.

And she misses him. It's not that he's gone or that she never sees him, she does, but never for very long and always while something else is going on, whether it's decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies, cooking supper or making lunches, it feels like they are constantly on the run.

She's hoping to make tonight feel special, though. Kate had contacted her Dad earlier in the day and asked him if he'd mind taking the kids for the evening. Jim was happy to look after his grandchildren and Jake, Reece and Lily had been ecstatic when they found out they'd be spending the night over at their grandfather's place.

Castle had a meeting with Gina about the release of his next book for a few hours this afternoon, and he'd just sent her a text saying he should be home within the next fifteen minutes.

That left her just enough time to slip into the sexy lingerie piece she'd let Lanie convince her to buy last week while they went out shopping. She hadn't been sure if she'd actually gather up the courage to wear it for him but after setting everything up for tonight, she finally decided to give it ago.

Castle has never made it a secret that he finds her desirable, but sometimes her insecurities get the better of her. After carrying three children and as the years go by she knows, can see that her body isn't what it once was. Rationally, she knows he still loves her, still wants her, but it doesn't stop the fact that she wants to look good for him, impress him with the sway of her hips and her endlessly long legs.

She's hoping the skimpy little Santa number she bought will give her the boost she needs to try and seduce her husband like she once did.

By the time she hears the front door unlock and open, she's got candles set up in the bedroom, supper hot and ready in the over and she quickly pulls on her floral satin robe to cover her lingerie.

"Kate?" she hears him call as he walks through the door and she checks her hair in the mirror one last time before joining him out in the living room.

His mouth falls open when he sees her and she feels a smile tug at the corner of her lips. He hasn't even seen what she's wearing under the robe yet.

"What is this? Where are the kids?" he asks, his voice confused but he seems a little awed.

"They're with my Dad," she shrugs. "I missed you and I thought we could have an evening to ourselves."

Castle drops his messenger bag by the door and strides the rest of the distance between them, his palms reaching for her cheeks as he lays his lips over hers, worships at the altar of her mouth now that they are finally alone, without an audience.

"It's perfect," he whispers when their lips part, breathing her in and she moans when he dives back in, tangles his tongue with hers and- oh god she's missed this, missed him.

She feels his fingers start to pull at the string of her robe and Kate grabs his hands, stops him before he unveils the surprise early, laughs when he pouts. "Later," she promises, and his eyes flare, unconcealed need burning in his gaze and she feels the flame come to life in her lower abdomen, almost decides that they can skip dinner.

But she wants time with him too, wants to talk about his day while they play footsie under the table, driving each other mad until they can't wait any longer. So, she take his hand in hers and tugs him towards the table, urging him to sit. "You made supper too?" He asks, surprised.

"Mm-hm," she confirms. "Homemade lasagna."

Castle moans. "God, you really are the perfect woman. When did you even have time to do all of this?" She takes the lasagna dish out of the oven and brings it over to the table, sits across from him and smiles at the boyish joy in his eyes.

"I took a few hours off of work. Talked with my Dad and asked if he minded having the kids for the night, and then I came back home to cook us dinner, figured you'd need it after your day of meetings."

He opens the bottle of red wine she'd set out and pours them both a glass. "This is really amazing, Kate."

They talk over the future of Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook for a little while, talk about the kids and what they have planned for the rest of the holidays. At one point during dinner her foot brushes along his ankle but she pays no attention to the warning look he gives her. She wants to touch him, craves the contact and yearns for the intimate touch. It's only when they are halfway through desert that she allows her foot to migrate to the inside of his thigh but this time he launches up from his chair and reaches for her, driven mad by her touch.

"You gonna show me what's underneath this robe?" He asks, his voice dark and husky and hungry for her.

"Impatient, Castle?" She teases, lifting a single brow, only she's just as desperate to show him as he is to see, hopes he'll love it.

"It's been driving me crazy all night," he groans, his lips migrating to the column of her neck and sucking at her pulse, tracing the sharp ridge of her collarbone with his tongue and nudging the silky material of her robe aside with his nose.

"Bedroom," she gasps, her heart beating hard in her chest at the heat of his mouth against her skin. "Now."

They stumble to their bedroom, barely make it in one piece, but when they cross the threshold Kate guides him backward until the back of his calves meet the edge of the mattress, urging him to sit.

And she lets the robe fall from her shoulders, land in a puddle at her feet. Only he's not looking at the fallen garment. No, he's staring at her, wide-eyed, his jaw hanging open.

"You're Santa."

Kate hums, and moves in closer to straddle his lap. His hands come up to bracket her hips, pulling her in close and nipping at the skin of her shoulder. "Does that mean I get to open my present early?"

Kate chuckles but it quickly turns into a gasp when his hands move south to cup her ass, drawing her closer still. "That depends on whether or not you're on the naughty list," she whispers, nipping at his earlobe.

"God, you're perfect," he murmurs between kisses and if he wasn't on the naughty list already, he sure as hell will be after tonight.